David Sudduth meshes passions for finance and people
Upstate native and Greenville Mayor Pro Tem David Sudduth professes his love for numbers, public policy and finance and talks with the Upstate Business Journal about his path from a naval petty officer to executive director of community and government affairs at Greenville Health System.
How did you decide on health care finance?
After graduating high school, I attended Bob Jones University for a year because my mother wanted me to go. But I didn’t do well because I wasn’t ready to commit to four-year education and didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was one of those people who really didn’t know what they wanted to do career-wise. Through a friend who had joined, I got a call from a Navy recruiter. It sounded like a really interesting option, so I went into the Navy and stayed on active duty four years. It was the best decision I ever made. I served on the USS Richmond K. Turner, a missile cruiser, as a dispensing clerk. It was like being a banker and financial advisor for 420 guys – I was essentially in charge of their finances. I chose the smaller ship because I was the only clerk and learned all aspects of the job. That time gave me perspective not only on my career, but on government affairs and world affairs.
Why health care?
My mother was studying to be a nurse, and my wife, Kathy, is a pediatric neurology nurse. Health care was always intriguing to me. While I was studying financial management at Clemson, I took electives in health care finance because that was really what I wanted to do.
How did your career evolve?
My first job was with Greenville Hospital System in 1991. There I learned firsthand the importance of networking and relationships. I essentially had to sell myself to the decision makers and started with an entry-level job in accounting. I moved to finance after a year. I wasn’t looking to make a change, but in 1996, the CFO of St. Francis contacted me and asked me to help create a finance department. It was almost like starting my own small business. In 2010, I took on the government affairs role, too. Over the years, the government affairs part took up more of my time. Now I’m back at GHS. It was much like the opportunity that took me away from GHS at first.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
I’m one of those strange people: I really enjoy finance, but I really enjoy people. This role gives me the opportunity to build community relationships while at the same time helping to address some of the financial health care issues that any health care provider is going through, especially with the Affordable Care Act. I also enjoy the collaboration at GHS. I don’t have a problem being a leader, but I just as much enjoy being a member of a team.
What is your favorite business book?
“It’s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy,” by Capt. D. Michael Abrashoff. I like it because it talks about taking ownership. There’s no better example of taking ownership than the captain of a ship. I also love to read biographies and find out what inspires and motivates people. I’m especially interested in reading about people who have their priorities in order.
What’s your idea of work-life balance?
It was easy to prioritize because we have triplets. You pretty much have to have both parents on deck. They were born in 1993 and for the first year and a half, we pretty much dropped off the face of the Earth – it was like we were in the Witness Protection Program. They were in the NICU for a time while I worked at GHS, so when they were in the hospital, I could spend time with them and bring my work into their room.
What’s on your bucket list?
I’m a frustrated golfer and I’ve always wanted to go to the British Open. In 2015, it’s at St. Andrews in Scotland, and we’re going for about two weeks.
What is something people don’t know about you?
I love riding my Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail motorcycle. It’s a custom color: Tequila Sunrise orange metal flake, which changes color in the sunlight. I’ve had it about a year and a half. I’ve always wanted one, but with young triplets, there were always other priorities. Though I bought it in midlife, it’s not a crisis.
Best Advice
Be yourself. “My father said that all the time. He said too many people waste time trying to be someone else. I really recognize the value in that because in a team, everyone has different talents and perspectives and when you bring that together, it has the potential to create a really powerful group.”
